Chelmsford Cricket Club Report for 6 & 7 September It was an odd weekend with no teams really having anything to play for. That was reflected in the results with the 1sts, 3rds and 5ths winning whilst the 2nds, 4ths and 6ths all lost. A fantastic spell from Sam Cook (4-17) set up the first team for victory in a short match at Harold Wood. Cook rounded off an outstanding debut season with four wickets but the combination of his seven over spell limit, the fact that Harold Wood were bowled out inside 25 overs and some poor concentration in the slips denied him a five-wicket haul. When two wickets fell in the second over, Chelmsford were rocking but Jack Sterland (45*) steadied things and ensured a six-wicket win. The second team were in relaxed mood having secured the league title but did not show champion form in losing to Buckhurst Hill. A big fourth wicket partnership between Bajpay (89) and Parkinson (69) was the basis of the visitors total of 245 for six. Chasing such a large score, it was going to need one player to make a large contribution. Although most of the Chelmsford batsmen got in, Sam Trowell’s 38 was the top score. Three wickets each for Platt and Parkinson helped to dismiss Chelmsford for 174. There was a similarly lacklustre mood in the third team and they found themselves in trouble as relegated South Woodford made a great start. Zulfiqer (98) played very well and helped the visitors into a dominant position of 158 for one. Keith Goodman (3-40) took the important wickets and Stephen Drain (5-7) ripped through the tail as the innings subsided to 186 all out. Paul Keaney (73) and David Thrift (63*) helped to achieve that with some comfort although Hussain (2-23) bowled well and there was a messy end with three late wickets. Both the fourth and fifth teams were taking on the top sides in their league and were perhaps helped by similarly slack attitudes. The fourth team had Harlow in trouble at 70 for six only for the wheels to come off. Some destructive hitting took the score up to a massive 288 albeit at a very small ground. Huw Davies and Steve Bond both claimed three wickets. Although Matt Davis hit a good half century, Chelmsford were well beaten. The combination of Eddie Lawrence and Jack Campion gave the fifth team an exciting win at Woodford Green. Batting first Chelmsford looked likely to be bowled out for less than a hundred through Trim (3-19) and Bhatt (3-22) until Campion (57) rescued them. A score of 131 still looked inadequate but Lawrence rolled back the years and returned the best figures by a Chelmsford bowler this year, seven for 23. These results meant that all of the teams finished the season in the top half of the table. The firsts secured fifth although they should be disappointed with that. The seconds and thirds both won their leagues, the thirds ultimately doing so by a large margin. The fourths were fifth, some distance ahead of sixth and some distance behind fourth. The fifths were a creditable fourth having flirted with relegation at one time, Barry Clayden’s late season run of form being a major factor in their late season run. It was not exactly youth to the fore as the sixth team played Old Chelmsfordians. Bob Shortman (47) and Colin Miller (63) were the main contributors to Chelmsford’s 195 for five with Matt Cook (28) the best of the youngsters. Reed (53) and Rowe (58) gave the visitors a strong platform to chase but three wickets for Matt Cole helped to make a game of it. The eighth wicket pair eked out the required runs. There was only one game on the Sunday but as it was the second team it was no surprise that they lost. Aythorpe Roding proved far too strong for a young side as they amassed 240 for five, Eaton (59), Bryant (101) and Downer (41*) doing the damage whilst Cameron Rudd picked up two wickets. Two early wickets for Reeve (2-15) completely undermined the chase and only Harry Green (55) offered any resistance. Reports & scores Saturday 6 September 1st Team Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division Played at Harold Wood Park Harold Wood 102 all out Chelmsford 104-4 (Chelmsford won by 6 wickets) 2nd Team Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division Played at Chelmer Park Buckhurst Hill 245-6 Chelmsford 174 all out (Buckhurst Hill won by 71 runs) 3rd Team Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division Played at Chelmer Park South Woodford 186 all out Chelmsford 187-5 (Chelmsford won by 5 wickets) Chelmsford rather expected an easy game against relegated South Woodford but it did not quite work out that way. An outstanding innings from Zulfiqer gave the visitors plenty of momentum at the start as he dominated an opening partnership of 73. With Keith Goodman bowling with typical control he found scoring more difficult but he also found a more positive partner in Quereshi and they took the score to 158. A mistimed pull brought about the breakthrough, Quereshi caught for 41 and Goodman then also removed Zulfiqer just two short of a hundred. Stephen Drain took the opportunity to rip through the lower order, taking five for seven as the innings collapsed to 186 all out. Goodman finished with three for 40 from 16 overs. The chase made a positive start with runs coming pretty easily but thirteen-year old Hussain (2-22) changed things with some good bowling and was rewarded with two wickets. David Thrift joined Paul Keaney at the crease and this experienced pair played slowly at first before opening out. With the runs coming in a rush, two wickets fell in one over to 82 year old Little (2-53) including Keaney (73). Another wicket fell with three needed but Thrift hit the winning runs, finishing an excellent personal season with 63 not out. This win also took the third team through the 300 point mark. 4th Team Shepherd Neame Essex League 3rd XI Division 1 Played at Spicer’s Field Harlow 288 all out Chelmsford 149 all out (Harlow won by 139 runs) 5th Team Shepherd Neame Essex League 4th XI Premier Division Played at Whitbread’s Sports Ground Chelmsford 131 all out Woodford Green 115 all out (Chelmsford won by 16 runs) 6th Team Friendly Played at Chelmer Park Chelmsford 195-5 Old Chelmsfordians 196-7 (Old Chelmsfordians won by 3 wickets) Sunday 7 September 2nd Team Friendly Played at the Recreation Ground Aythorpe Roding 240-5 Chelmsford 132 all out (Aythorpe Roding won by 108 runs) Fixtures Sunday 14 September T20: Warsop T20 Finals Day 2nds: East Hanningfield (A) F 1.00 .